General goals
- Preserve the character and scale associated with the
area’s industrial past
- Intensify and diversify the area’s activities by
fostering the cohabitation of economic and residential activities
- Reinforce recreational and tourism uses in the Peel Basin
area as well as the nautical vocation of the Lachine Canal, by taking advantage
of the proximity of Old Montréal, the Old Port and the Central Business
District
Planning issues
Griffintown has been an industrial area since the 19th century. At its
peak, it was home to factories, metal workshops, breweries, printing plants,
shipping companies and other industries. Its industrial decline began in the
first half of the 20th century and was hastened by the complete closure of
the Lachine Canal in 1970. This decline spurred the loss of a large number of
jobs and the demolition of many buildings. As a result, the area now has high
development potential, especially since many industrial buildings of heritage
interest have been spared from demolition.
Each part of the area has its own character and scale, making revitalization
all the more interesting. However, the process must contend with heavy vehicle
traffic and industries that generate nuisances, such as noise, pollutants emissions,
dust and vibrations.
Over the past 20 years or so, a number of areas adjacent to Griffintown have
undergone transformation. The revitalization of Petite Bourgogne along with
the enhancement of the Stelco lands, the area around the Seigneurs locks and
the Cité Multimédia all serve to increase Griffintown’s
potential. In addition, the establishment of the École de technologie
supérieure, along with its student residences, is helping to revive the
area by bringing residents and workers.
Griffintown could benefit from a more formal connection to the Central Business
District. In this regard, Rue Peel, connected to Rue de la Commune, is
the preferred corridor, despite its lack of streetscape design and retail continuity.
The redevelopment of the area along the Lachine Canal and its opening to
pleasure craft also favour a rise in recreational and tourist activities south of
Wellington. However, the combined presence of the elevated portion of the Autoroute
Bonaventure and the railway bridge is a major barrier between Griffintown on
one side and the Cité Multimédia and Old Montréal on the
other, not to mention the major visual impact that this has on the Peel Basin
area.
